Power Sector: Senate Begins Probe Of Obasanjo, Yaradua, Jonathans administration

The Senate will today, Tuesday, begin a probe into alleged mismanagement of funds appropriated to the Nigerian power sector from1999 till date.

The probe will cover the regimes of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Power, which was inaugurated by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, about two weeks ago, and led by Senator Abubakar Kyari made its plans public in a statement in Abuja, on Monday.

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The Clerk of the Committee on Power, Mr. Cletus Ojabo, who signed the statement, said the probe would be in form of investigative hearing and interactive session with key stakeholders of the sector for the period under review.

He said, “The investigation will centre on funds appropriated for the power sector since 1999 to the point of unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria and all matters connected therewith.”

Last month, Saraki, had announced a 13-man ad hoc committee to carry out a holistic investigation into the management of funds appropriated to the power sector from the Olusegun Obasanjo civilian administration to date.

Saraki had urged members of the committee to consider their reputation and integrity and come up with a report that would be acceptable to Nigerians.

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He lamented that a lot of money had been spent on the sector with no results, while Nigeria is still faced with the challenge of power supply.

The committee was also saddled with the responsibility of looking into irregularities in the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

The committee was charged with the task of looking into the entire power value chain including generation, transmission and distribution with a view to identifying what the problems in the sector are.

Saraki noted that the task before the panel is huge. He however frowned at the continued absence of regular supply of electricity despite the country’s huge investments in the sector.

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